Camille Juban

camille-juban-texte1

It is Monday, November 28, 2018. A huge swell crossed the Pacific towards the Hawaiian islands. The surfing world turned to the island of Maui and the famous waves of Jaws. The World Surf League Pe’ahi Challenge, a must-see big wave surfing event, had just begun. Famous for its reputation, the Hawaiian Jaws devoured everything in its path. In the middle of the day, the WSL was forced to halt the competition. Paddling out was impossible. The wind was strong and the waves were considered too big to ensure the surfers' safety. A handful of men saw it as an opportunity to ride the wave of their lives. The windsurfer Camille Juban was among them! Accompanied by his brother Tom and two friends on a jet ski, Camille joined two former OXBOW ambassadors in the line-up: windsurfing legend Jason Polakow, and Kai Lenny, who went on to win the XXL Award for the biggest tow-in wave surfed during the session.

“Just being in the water at Jaws that day with these guys was mind blowing. It was impossible for me to just sit by and watch.” A huge set arrived offshore. The windsurfer rushed forward to catch the big one. “At the time, it felt more like riding a mountain of water than a gigantic wave. Some have told me it was arguably the biggest wave ever windsurfed. All I knew was that I had an unforgettable experience! "

“It is the combination of two things, waves and wind, which makes windsurfing an extraordinary and spectacular sport.”

Playing with marine elements is Camille Juban's reason for living. Windsurfing, surfing, foiling, tow-in, fishing… A true waterman, the Frenchman, adapts to the conditions to spend as much time as possible on the water. His island is a paradise for all watermen. Originally from Saint-Etienne, Camille Juban moved to Guadeloupe when he was only 4 years old. “Windsurfing was a big part of the reason my parents moved here.” A passion for the ocean was born on the fine sandy beaches of the butterfly-shaped island. In his parents’ footsteps, he started surfing at 5, then windsurfing at 7. He was just a kid tackling the lagoon of Saint-François. A few years later, Camille made a name for himself, "GPE8", and carved out an impressive track record. A three-time champion of the International Windsurf Tour, he also won the most prestigious competition twice, the Aloha Classic, which brings together the world's best windsurfers on Hawaii's mythical Ho'okipa Beach every year.

Today, Camille lives off his passion. He travels the world in search of the most beautiful spots to navigate. He, who readily cites legends like Polakow, Levi Silver, Keith Teboul or Francisco Goya as sources of inspiration, is in his own right, one of the best windsurfers on the planet. We are very proud to have him in the OXBOW ambassador family.

Text : Camille Juban

Follow Camille on the social networks